Aircraft Engine Oil Circuit Valve Redirection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aircraft engine oil circuits require large and costly tank devices to store oil during engine shutdown, as they need to retain all lubricating oil, leading to inefficiencies in design and weight optimization.

Innovation Solution

The oil circuit design includes a valve device that switches between open and closed states to redirect oil from the recirculation conduit to the accessory gearbox during engine cutoff, reducing the amount of oil stored in the tank and allowing the tank to be smaller, lighter, and more cost-effective, with additional throttle devices ensuring proper oil flow during operation and shutdown.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large tank device is used to store all lubricating oil during engine shutdown, then oil retention is ensured, but the tank device becomes large, heavy, and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil retention during shutdownVSAvoidtank device weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The oil storage function is segmented between two locations: the accessory gearbox stores a portion of the oil (first storage location), while the tank device stores the remaining oil (second storage location). This segmentation allows the tank device to be smaller and lighter while still ensuring complete oil retention during engine shutdown.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The valve device is pre-configured to automatically direct oil flow to the accessory gearbox during engine shutdown conditions. This preliminary arrangement ensures that oil is redirected to alternative storage locations before the shutdown completes, preventing oil loss without requiring a larger tank.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a large tank device is used to store all lubricating oil during engine shutdown, then oil retention is ensured, but the tank device becomes costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil retention during shutdownVSAvoidtank device cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The oil storage function is segmented between the accessory gearbox and the tank device, allowing the tank device to be smaller and less expensive while maintaining complete oil retention capability through the combined storage capacity of both locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If oil is drained into the tank device during engine cutoff, then oil backup is achieved, but the amount of oil stored in the tank increases unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil backup during cutoffVSAvoidoil volume in tank

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The oil backup function is segmented between two storage locations: the accessory gearbox receives a portion of the drained oil through the recirculation conduit, while the tank device receives the remaining oil. This segmentation reduces the volume of oil that must be stored in the tank device while ensuring complete oil backup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The recirculation conduit acts as an intermediary pathway that directs oil from the engine cutoff location to the accessory gearbox before final storage in the tank device. This intermediary routing optimizes oil distribution and reduces tank storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration allows for a significant reduction in the amount of oil stored in the tank device during engine shutdown, with most oil stored in the accessory gearbox, enabling a cost-effective and weight-optimized oil circuit while maintaining efficient lubrication and cooling functions.

Implementation Method 1

a valve device is provided that can be switched between at least one open switching state and a closed state, wherein in the open switching state of the valve device oil can be supplied to the tank device via the recirculation conduit, and in the closed state of the valve device an oil feed to the tank device via the recirculation conduit is blocked

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectValve: Valve

Implementation Method 2

with additional throttle devices ensuring proper oil flow during operation and shutdown

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThrottle: Flow Separation

Data Source

PatentUS10393313B2Oil circuit of an aircraft engine

Publication Date: 2019.08.27 ROLLS ROYCE DEUT LTD & CO KG

AI summary

An oil circuit of an aircraft engine, includes a tank, a lubricant pump and a recirculation pump. The lubricant pump supplies oil via a supply line from the tank to a load of the engine and to an accessory gearbox. Oil is resupplied via a recirculation conduit to the tank by the recirculation pump. The recirculation conduit is connected to the accessory gearbox via a further recirculation conduit. A valve is provided that can be switched between an open switching state and a closed state. In the open switching state of the valve, oil is supplied to the tank via the recirculation conduit. In the closed state of the valve device, an oil feed to the tank via the recirculation conduit is blocked, and oil from the recirculation conduit is supplied to the accessory gearbox via the further recirculation conduit.